French and Israeli consulates in Hong Kong are warning that a show by a comedian convicted of inciting racial hatred could spark violence on the streets.
Dieudonné M’bala M’bala is set to come to Hong Kong to perform for two nights in Cyberport on Jan. 28 and 29.
The French-Cameroonian has a list of convictions in Belgium and France and is well known as a hate-speech artist… which is apparently a thing. The majority of his “jokes” are racist and anti-semitic, and he pioneered the quenelle hand gesture – an inverted Nazi salute – according to the SCMP.
Last year he no doubt did his mother extra proud by mocking the “Je Suis Charlie” slogan in the wake of Paris’s Charlie Hebdo attacks.
Both the French and Israeli consulates in Hong Kong have contacted the government and the police, condemning a visit by M’bala M’bala.
The French Consulate said it was powerless to stop the show, but was keen to show they’re not best buds with this particular countryman.
“The Consulate would condemn of course any incitement to terrorism or to racial hatred or any expression of racism in a performance made by a French artist in Hong Kong, which does not reflect the opinion and values of the French people,” it wrote in a letter.
The Israeli Consulate warned that the show could spark violence, telling the Sunday morning post, “I think it will be a scandal if such a performance of a known anti-Semite and racist takes place in Hong Kong. I would be curious to see what type of Hong Kong citizen will bother to buy tickets to hear such incident and racism from an anti-Semite who calls himself a comedian.”
A police spokesman, however, said they can only take action if they believe a crime is being committed.
“We respect the public’s freedoms of expression and speech all along. It is the policy of police to facilitate all peaceful public events while at the same time ensuring public safety and public order.”
